Prime Asia whacks Lion Tiger to take lead in Partner's Cup

CEBU, Philippines - The Prime Asia Pawnshop-UV Lancers rode on the brilliance of their cat-quick sentinels to trounce Lion Tiger Katol/USJ-R Jaguars, 87-75 and take a 2-0 lead in the 6th CESAFI Partner's Cup men's basketball tournament last Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Of all the Prime Asia guards who were too slippery for Lion Tiger to catch, the smallest man on the floor in John Michael Abad shone the brightest on the offensive end with 16 points for the UV-powered squad.

Abad, along with Eman Calo and Phil Mercader, pumped up life to Prime Asia after Lion Tiger closed within just six points, 75-81, in the final 51 seconds of the contest after being down by as much as 16 points, 54-70.

At the frontcourt, Prime Asia also has a more dominant big men in Rene Jun Saycon, Andrew Avillanoza and rookie Wowie Escocio compared to Lion Tiger, who mainly relies on Abulaiz Sulaiman.

Escocio and Arvie Cabanero finished with 10 points each, while Wowie Kadir and Saycon, who committed an unsportsmanlike foul against Lion Tiger's Banjo Capillar, chipped in eight markers apiece.

Jason Olbedado paced Lion Tiger with 15 points followed by Miguel Tabaloc with 12 as they fell to 1-1 in a tie with KIA Motors, who rallied from a 16-poind deficit to grill San Marino Corned Tuna-USPF Panthers, 89-87.

Lion Tiger's 3-point sniping did not work as Midjet dela Rama and Capillar had only seven points each. They kept the game close only in the first period as Prime Asia exploded in the succeeding quarter, 29-15, to mount a baker's dozen lead at halftime, 44-31.

The scores

Prime Asia (87) - Abad 16, Cabanero 10, Escocio 10, Saycon 8, Kadir 8, Calo 6, Perolino 6, Codilla 6, Mercader 5, Avillanoza 5, Mendoza 4, Arong 2, Provido 1

Lion Tiger (75) - Olbedado 15, Tabaloc 12, Sulaiman 7, Dela Rama 7, Capillar 7, Regalado 6, Pableo 6, Perez 4, Lajato 3, Abing 2, Medalle 2, Palatao 2, Villarosa 2 Halftime: 44-31 (GGM)(FREEMAN)